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San Antonio Spurs Blog ’ Category

Wednesday night in Toronto the Raptors defended home court and beat the San Antonio Spurs 97-94. It was only the Spurs’ 5th loss of the season. In the win, DeMar DeRozan shot 10-15 for 28 points and six assists, while Kyle Lowry had 19 points and eight assists. Here’s the Toronto Star reporting:

It’s a dangerous game but a fun one, watching a team rise to the level of good opposition and sink to the level of bad.

It can’t be a lot of fun when they lose to supposedly inferior opposition but when it goes the other way, it can be an awfully good for their souls.

The Raptors, who typify that up-and-down existence like few teams in the NBA, did it again Wednesday, upsetting the San Antonio Spurs 97-94 at the Air Canada Centre, battling injuries and foul trouble with a patchwork rotation for a well-deserved wire-to-wire victory.

It was a gut-check win for the Raptors, now 14-9, against the 18-5 Spurs, who had won nine of 10 coming into the game.

It was sealed with fewer than 10 seconds left when DeMar DeRozan, capping perhaps his best game of the season, scooped up an offensive rebound of a Kyle Lowry miss and Toronto ahead by just three.

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have assigned forward Jonathon Simmons to the Austin Spurs of the NBA Development League.

Simmons, 6-6/195, was signed by San Antonio on July 22, 2015, after spending the past two seasons with the Austin Spurs. The Texas native made the team after attending an open tryout in Austin in 2013. Last season Simmons was named to the NBA D-League All-Defensive Third Team while appearing in all 50 games, averaging 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.00 steals in 33.8 minutes. Simmons shot .494 (277-561) from the field, .398 (51-128) from three-point range and .750 (153-204) from the charity stripe.

During his two years with Austin, Simmons appeared in a total of 94 games, averaging 12.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.00 blocks in 28.8 minutes while shooting .506 (446-882) from the field, .352 (76-216) from beyond the arc and .736 (22-303) from the foul line.

Here’s the San Antonio Express-News blog reporting on Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who through five games this season is averaging 14.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per outing on his new squad:

The Spurs have to face Charlotte tonight at the AT&T Center and Sacramento on the road Monday, but Wednesday’s must-see game in Portland – LaMarcus Aldridge’s homecoming – is already on their minds.

Aldridge played nine seasons for the Trail Blazers before signing in free agency this summer with the Spurs, an acquisition that has the potential to add more hardware to the team’s already crowded trophy case. Although many fans in Portland likely understand the Texas-ex’s desire to win a championship and appreciate his All-Star efforts for the Blazers, there will be many more who will shower him with boos for the move.

With that in mind, the Spurs are bracing for what Danny Green said will be a “more hostile” environment than usual.

The San Antonio Spurs have exercised their third-year option on forward Kyle Anderson for the 2016-17 season. This was an expected move and will surprise no one.

Originally selected by the Spurs in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft (30th overall), Anderson averaged 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 11.2 minutes over 32 games last season. The former UCLA Bruin also appeared in 26 games with the Austin Spurs, San Antonio’s NBA D-League affiliate, where he averaged 21.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 40.1 minutes.

Anderson was named MVP of the 2015 NBA Summer League after averaging 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.3 minutes over seven games, helping the Spurs win the 2015 Las Vegas Summer League Championship.

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed forward Julian Washburn.

Until it is reported otherwise, we will assume it is a non-guaranteed deal.

Washburn, 6-8/210, recently concluded a four-year career at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where he averaged 11.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 34.2 minutes over 130 career games. He finished first in school history in total minutes (4,448), fourth in field goals (592) and sixth in scoring (1,526 points).

The San Antonio Spurs unveiled today their Black Signature Spur jerseys that will be worn during the 2015-16 NBA season. The new black alternate uniform’s efficient jersey design simply features the iconic Spurs logo prominently over the heart, while the player numbers rest on the right breast. The uniforms feature silver panels with silver, black and white trim and the accompanying shorts also include the Spur logo on each side.

The Spurs will debut the new uniforms at the home opener vs. the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 30 and will be worn multiple times this season. The Black Signature Spur uniforms will join the lineup of traditional home white and away black uniforms, along with the camouflage military and silver alternate versions. The Spurs debuted the silver version of the Signature Spur uniforms in 2012 and they were the first-ever NBA jersey logo without any writing or peripheral design.

The San Antonio Spurs yesterday announced their 2015-16 training camp roster.

The Spurs current roster stands at 20 players, and includes the additions of forwards Rasual Butler and Deshaun Thomas, guard Keifer Sykes and center Youssou Ndoye.

Butler (6-7, 205), a 12-year NBA veteran, spent last season with the Washington Wizards. He appeared in 75 games, averaging 7.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 20.1 minutes. Originally selected by Miami with the 52nd overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, Butler has played for the Indiana Pacers (2013-14), Toronto Raptors (2011-12), Chicago Bulls (2010-11), New Orleans Hornets (2005-09) and Heat (2002-05).

Thomas (6-7, 215) was drafted by the Spurs with the 58th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. He spent last season overseas playing for FC Barcelona in the Spanish Liga ACB and Euroleague. The former Ohio State Buckeye averaged 8.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 20.4 minutes in 43 Liga games. In Euroleague action he averaged 7.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 19.0 minutes in 28 games.

Sykes (6-0, 180) joins the Spurs after a standout career at Wisconsin-Green Bay. He was named the Horizon League Player of the Year as a junior and senior (2014 and 2015) and earned All-Horizon League First Team honors in three consecutive seasons (2013-15). As a senior Sykes averaged 18.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Sykes participated in the 2015 NBA Las Vegas Summer League with the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 18.4 minutes over five games.

Ndoye (7-0, 250) recently wrapped up his collegiate career at St. Bonaventure where he was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team and garnered Atlantic 10 All-Conference Third Team honors. He was just one of two Atlantic 10 players to average a double-double, registering 11.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.60 blocks in his final season with the Bonnies. Ndoye was a member of the Spurs 2015 NBA Las Vegas Summer League team, averaging 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.4 minutes in six games.

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Jacque Vaughn has been added to the front office. The former Spurs player and assistant coach will return to San Antonio as a pro scout.

Vaughn spent the last three seasons as head coach of the Orlando Magic (2012-15) and was the second-youngest head coach in the league when he was hired in 2012. Prior to leading Orlando, he spent two seasons (2010-12) as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich for the Silver and Black.

In his 12-year NBA playing career, Vaughn appeared in a total of 776 games and averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 assists. The former Kansas Jayhawk was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft (27th overall) and played his first four seasons in Salt Lake City. He then made stops with the Hawks, Magic and Nets before signing with the Spurs on July 12, 2006. Vaughn played his final three seasons in San Antonio and was part of the Spurs 2007 NBA Championship team before retiring after the 2008-09 season.

After retaining their core players while adding LaMarcus Aldridge and David West, the San Antonio Spurs are still an NBA championship contender. Their fans, of course, know this. Here’s the San Antonio Express-News blog reporting:

Want season tickets to watch the new-look Spurs play in the renovated AT&T Center this fall?

Get in line. Or rather, put your name on the list.

For the first time in club history, the Spurs will institute a waiting list for season tickets next week after selling out of their allotment of 13,200.

Current season-ticket holders will be given first priority, should they want to add to their personal inventory.

There was no fear of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich leaving the team while Tim Duncan is still out there hitting bank-shots, but what about when The Big Fundamental hangs up his sneakers? Danny Green feels new additions to the roster will keep Pop on the sideline for seasons to come. Which is good news for everyone other than reporters interviewing him during the middle of a game. Here’s the San Antonio Express News reporting:

Like many Spurs players and fans, Green always had presumed Popovich would depart the Spurs bench as soon as team captain Tim Duncan opted for retirement. But with the signing of free agent power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and the new, five-year contract for teammate Kawhi Laonard signed in mid-July Green now believes Popovich will stick around past the end of 39-year-old Duncan’s career — whenever that comes.

“Without LaMarcus and Kawhi (Leonard) I think he’s out the door when Timmy leaves,” Green said on Wednesday after an appearance at the Spurs youth camp at George Gervin Academy. “Them being here I think extends his tenure just a little bit longer.

Fredette, 6-2/195, spent last season playing for the New Orleans Pelicans. He appeared in 50 games, averaging 3.6 points and 1.4 assists in 10.2 minutes.

After a celebrated college career, Fredette hasn’t made his mark in the NBA yet. Even as a reserve, he hasn’t solidified himself as a definite rotation player. In San Antonio, minutes will continue to be limited. He’ll need to make the most of every second of court time.

A four-year NBA veteran, Fredette was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. He was dealt to the Sacramento Kings in a draft night trade where he spent two-plus seasons. In March 2014 he signed with the Chicago Bulls where he played out the remainder of the 2013-14 season. In 229 NBA career games, Fredette is averaging 6.1 points, 1.4 assists and 1.0 rebounds in 13.7 minutes while shooting .412 (514-1,248) from the field, .381 (192-504) from beyond the arc and .878 (187-213) from the foul line.

Fredette enjoyed a four-year career (2007-11) at Brigham Young University where he led all Division I players in scoring (28.9 ppg) as a senior. In his final season with the Cougars, he won nearly every National Player of the Year honor including the Naismith, Wooden and Associated Press awards. The New York native finished his career averaging 18.7 points, 3.7 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in 139 outings for the Cougars, and set BYU career records for points (2,599), three-pointers (296), games played (139) and total wins (112).

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed shooting guard Jonathon Simmons.

Simmons, 6-6/195, played on the Spurs 2015 Summer League team in Las Vegas where he helped lead the team to the Summer League Championship, averaging 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.71 steals in 24.6 minutes while shooting .519 (41-79) from the field and .700 (35-50) from the foul line in seven games. He was named MVP of the championship game, finishing with a team-high 23 points (7-14 FG, 9-12 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 24 minutes.

The 25-year-old Simmons has spent the past two seasons playing for the Austin Spurs, the NBA D-League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs. The Texas native made the team after attending an open tryout in Austin in 2013. Last season Simmons was named to the NBA D-League All-Defensive Third Team while appearing in all 50 games, averaging 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.00 steals in 33.8 minutes. Simmons shot .494 (277-561) from the field, .398 (51-128) from three-point range and .750 (153-204) from the charity stripe.

During his two years with Austin, Simmons appeared in 94 games, averaging 12.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.00 blocks in 28.8 minutes while shooting .506 (446-882) from the field, .352 (76-216) from beyond the arc and .736 (22-303) from the foul line.

Prior to turning pro Simmons played one season (2011-12) at the University of Houston. The former Cougar appeared in all 30 games as a redshirt junior, averaging 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30.1 minutes. Before transferring to Houston, Simmons played his sophomore season (2009-10) at Midland Junior College and his freshman season (2008-09) at Paris Junior College.

Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting on the Spurs and Suns, who Monday in Las Vegas battled for the 2015 summer league championship:

The Suns’ Summer League rotation of hot scoring hands turned to rookie free agent Mike James on Monday night, but even his 32-point game was not enough to bring the league tournament’s championship trophy to Phoenix.

James scored 23 second-half points, but San Antonio overcame an early 10-point hole to down the Suns 93-90 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The Suns ended the 24-team tournament with their sloppiest game. They committed 18 turnovers and had three players – T.J. Warren, Archie Goodwin and Devin Booker – foul out as the Summer League’s first female head coach, Becky Hammon, led the Spurs (6-1) to a win with two roster players – league MVP Kyle Anderson and championship-game MVP Jonathan Simmons.

James, an explosive 6-foot-1 point guard, hit 10 of 18 shots with 3-of-6 shooting from the 3-point line and 9-for-11 free throw shooting. He also had eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and five turnovers.

At this point in his career, Ginobili remains a key member of the Spurs’ supporting cast but is not counted on as a leader the way he used to be. And with the fantastic additions to the team’s frontcourt this offseason, there will be even less pressure on Manu than ever before.

The upcoming season will mark Ginobili’s 14th campaign with the Silver and Black. Over the course of his NBA career, he has appeared in 865 games, averaging 14.3 points, 4.0 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.39 steals in 26.7 minutes. He has shot .450 (4,015-8,925) percent from the field, .368 (1,272-3,457) from three-point range and .827 (3,093-3,739) from the charity stripe.

Ginobili, who was drafted by San Antonio with the 57th overall pick in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft, is the Spurs all-time NBA leader in three-pointers made (1,272), second in steals (1,201), fourth in games played (865) and free-throws made (3,093) and fifth in total points (12,395) and assists (3,478). He has twice been named to the All-NBA Third Team (2008, 2011). The 2008 NBA Sixth Man of the Year and two-time All-Star (2008, 11), Ginobili currently owns the best winning percentage of any active player in the NBA (.723, 625-240).

The four-time NBA champion has appeared in 187 career playoff games, averaging 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.40 steals in 29.4 minutes. Last postseason, he passed Michael Jordan for 11th all-time in postseason wins (120). That total gives Ginobili, along with teammates Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, the most playoff victories by a trio in NBA postseason history. The trio has also set an NBA record for most regular-season games played together (730) and is second all-time in league history for its 539 shared victories.

Ginobili has been a member of the Argentinian National Team since 1998. He led his home country to the Gold Medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, becoming one of only two players to have won a Euroleague title, an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal (Bill Bradley). In 2010 he was awarded the Diamond Konex Award, given to the most important sportsman of the decade in Argentina.

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed center Boban Marjanovic.

Marjanovic, 7-3/290, is from Serbia and last played for Crvena Zvezda in 2014-15. In 24 Euroleague games, he averaged 16.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 27.3 minutes. A professional since 2006, Marjanovic was named All-Euroleague First Team in 2015 and has been named Serbian Super League MVP on three occasions.

In 19 Serbian League contests last season, he averaged 13.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 19.6 minutes.

The 26-year-old’s debut on the Serbian National Team came at the EuroBasket 2011.

The San Antonio Spurs’ signing of rugged power forward David West became official today.

According to KSAT San Antonio, “West took a big paycut to join the Spurs. He was scheduled to make $12 million this season with the Indiana Pacers. West reportedly will make $1.4 million with the Spurs.”

It’s been an amazing offseason for the Spurs, who retained Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and Tim Duncan while adding amazing frontcourt pieces in star LaMarcus Aldridge and former star West. They could use another shooter in the backcourt with Marco Belinelli gone, but their frontcourt is easily one of the best in the league.

West, 6-9/240, joins the Spurs after spending the past four seasons with the Indiana Pacers. Last season he appeared in 66 games, averaging 11.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 28.7 minutes while shooting .471 (323-686) from the field and .739 (119-161) from the foul line. In Indiana, West appeared in 285 total games, averaging 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 30.6 minutes while shooting .487 (1,632-3,350) from the field and .776 (701-903) from the charity stripe.

A 12-year NBA veteran, West was originally drafted by the New Orleans Hornets with the 18th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. He spent eight seasons (2003-11) in New Orleans where he was named an All-Star in 2007 and 2008. The New Jersey native appeared in 530 total games for the Hornets, averaging 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 32.4 minutes.

For his career, West has appeared in 815 NBA games, averaging 15.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 31.8 minutes while shooting .489 (5,108-10,441) from the field and .820 (2,405-2,933) from the foul line. The former Xavier Musketeer has seen action in 73 playoff games, averaging 15.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 35.2 minutes.